2004 Highlights

·          Rural Business Opportunity Grant from USDA-Rural Business/Cooperative Service for technical assistance to the MS Shiitake Mushroom Growers Association in marketing development.

• Helped secure USDA-Rural Business/Cooperative Service grants totaling nearly $1.3 million to assist 39 area poultry producers in 17 counties to install energy efficiency improvements in poultry houses in the Southwest Mississippi, Southeast Mississippi and Central Mississippi RC&D Areas. Assistance provided by MSU Extension Service, Poultry Science Dept., and Food and Fiber Center. This was 70% of the $1.8 million in grants approved nationwide under this program in 2004.

• Formed Southwest Mississippi Artisans, an organization to promote artists and craftsmen.  $15,000 grant from the US Forest Service and National Endowment to help the group implement SMA's Action Plan.

• Public FireWise meetings in all 12 counties, assisted by MS Forestry Commission.  Provided educational and fire suppression equipment to county fire coordinators. 

• Provided grant to Marion County to be used for installation of 5 dry hydrants.

• $57,300 grant from US Forest Service to develop a prototype enterprise to salvage wood from urban areas, forestry clearcuts, and fire hazard areas.

·          Conducted 12th National Timber Bridge Design Competition for ASCE and FPS student chapters from universities across US and Canada. Secured funding from Weyerhaeuser Co., Unit Structures LLC, Southern Forest Products Association and US Forest Service. Overall winner was US Military Academy (West Point). Received funding commitment from US Forest Service to support the annual Competition through 2007

• Updated RC&D Council's Long Range Plan using input on natural resource, human resource, and community development issues.

• Assisted Hazlehurst and Prentiss in acquiring $10,000 in tree planting grants from MS Forestry Commission.

• Assisted MS School of the Arts, City of McComb, and Lincoln County in successful completion of over $40,000 in Transportation Enhancement (Tree Planting) projects with $30,000 in grants from MFC.

• Completed Nature Trail for the visually impaired with raised-panel tree identification signs and interactive kiosk with speakers providing information on 40 tree species at Lake Hazle Park in Hazlehurst. Funded by a MS Forestry Commission Urban Forestry grant and a grant from Pearl River Basin Development District.

• Cooperative agreement with USDA-NRCS to provide financial support to efforts to reestablish the longleaf pine in its native habitat, including in combination with agro-forestry and silva-pasture programs.

• Entered into cooperative agreement with USDA-NRCS to provide $60,000 to Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) demonstrations and educational activities statewide.

• Assisted Seago Lumber Company (Pike C0.) and Brinson Farms (Jeff Davis County) in successful grant applications for more than $300,000 in Renewable Energy grants from USDA-Rural Development.